In a significant development for Indian cricket, rising stars Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and seasoned campaigner Abhimanyu Easwaran have been appointed as captains of the four squads set to compete in the Duleep Trophy this year. This traditional domestic first-class cricket tournament, known for its role in nurturing and showcasing the best talent India has to offer, will kick off on September 5 and culminate on September 22. The action will unfold across two venues: Andhra Pradesh’s cricketing hub, Anantapur, and the iconic Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
According to Cricbuzz, the selection committee has taken the decision to field numerous players from India’s senior squads in the domestic tournament. However, some of the leading names like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya will not be participating in this edition. Additionally, seasoned off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has also been excluded, while star pacer Mohammed Shami is continuing his rehabilitation.
Gill, who will lead Team A, will have a formidable team at his disposal, featuring notable players like Riyan Parag, KL Rahul, Shivam Dube, and Kuldeep Yadav. This squad aims to blend young talent and experienced players to create a competitive edge in the tournament, hoping to strike the right balance between aggressive play and strategic planning on the field.
Team B, captained by Abhimanyu Easwaran, boasts of having dynamic players such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Rishabh Pant in its ranks. All-rounder Nitish Reddy, included in Easwaran’s squad, awaits fitness clearance to participate. The team reflects a comprehensive mix of aggressive batsmen, deft all-rounders, and agile wicketkeeping, absent a fierce bowling lineup, which could pose an interesting dynamic in the tournament.
On the other hand, Team C will be under the leadership of Ruturaj Gaikwad. His squad will see the presence of batting veterans like Suryakumar Yadav, Sai Sudharsan, and Rajat Patidar, all of whom lend strength and depth to the team’s batting order.
. Fans will keenly watch for Ishan Kishan’s return to action, as he is set to play in Team D, led by Shreyas Iyer. Kishan will be accompanied by other notable talents, including Devdutt Padikkal, Axar Patel, and Arshdeep Singh, reinforcing both batting and bowling lines.
The declaration by the BCCI also includes an important detail: players selected to represent India in the forthcoming home Test series against Bangladesh will be replaced in their respective Duleep Trophy squads. This decision aligns with the BCCI’s strategic management of player workload, ensuring key talents stay fresh and free from fatigue.
Reflecting on Cricbuzz’s mid-July update, it’s evident that there was a deliberate attempt to increase the national team players’ participation in the domestic competition. This strategic injection of international experience into the Duleep Trophy is anticipated to raise the tournament’s competitive standards, providing invaluable match-time experiences to both established and emerging players.
Here’s an in-depth look at the squads gearing up for the Duleep Trophy:
### Team A:
– **Captain**: Shubman Gill
– **Players**: Mayank Agarwal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, KL Rahul, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Tanush Kotian, Kuldeep Yadav, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Khaleel Ahmed, Avesh Khan, Vidwath Kaverappa, Kumar Kushagra, Shaswat Rawat.
### Team B:
– **Captain**: Abhimanyu Easwaran
– **Players**: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant, Musheer Khan, Nitish Kumar Reddy (subject to fitness), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd Siraj, Yash Dayal, Mukesh Kumar, Rahul Chahar, R Sai Kishore, Mohit Awasthi, N Jagadeesan (WK).
### Team C:
– **Captain**: Ruturaj Gaikwad
– **Players**: Sai Sudharsan, Rajat Patidar, Abishek Porel (WK), Suryakumar Yadav, B Indrajith, Hrithik Shokeen, Manav Suthar, Umran Malik, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Anshul Khamboj, Himanshu Chauhan, Mayank Markande, Aryan Juyal (WK), Sandeep Warrier.
### Team D:
– **Captain**: Shreyas Iyer
– **Players**: Atharva Taide, Yash Dubey, Devdutt Padikkal, Ishan Kishan (WK), Ricky Bhui, Saransh Jain, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Aditya Thakare, Harshit Rana, Tushar Deshpande, Akash Sengupta, KS Bharat (WK), Saurabh Kumar.
As the Duleep Trophy draws near, cricket enthusiasts look forward to a tournament that promises intense competition and unparalleled excitement. This year’s fixture will not only be a battleground for seasoned professionals but also a critical stage for young aspirants trying to leave their mark. The blend of young talent with tried and tested players augurs well for Indian cricket, making the Duleep Trophy a must-watch this season.